Traffic signal



Nov. 25T, 1924. 1,516,570

I V. R. MELLENBRUCH TRAFFI C S IGNAL Filed April 15; 1922 fm a.,

Patented Nov'. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES y VICTOR R. MELLENBRUCH, 0F BURDICK, KANSAS.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

' Application led April 15, 1922. Serial No. 552,863.

To all whom it may concern.' k

Be it known that I, Vieron R. Mannen- BRUCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burdick, in the county of Morris, State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Traiic Signal; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.-

The invention relates to ytraiiic signals particularly adapted for use at intersecting streets and so constructed that when a vehicle approaches the intersection of one of said streets, signalling elements will be actuated on the other street for signalling vehicles before theyl reach the intersection. The device is particularly adapted for use in streets where one street is desi ated as a right of way street under all con itions.

Alfurther object is to provide a traffic signal comprising a vehicle depressing plate disposed in the street, a semaphore arm disposed on the adjacent intersecting street and actuated through a solenoid energized by an electric current in circuit with a circuit maker and breaker.. Also to provide means whereby the signalling devicesv will be held in operated positions by delaying releasing' action of the circuit maker and breaker.

A further object is to rovide a delayed circuit maker and brea er, said circuit.

maker and breaker comprising a segmentally shaped member formed from 'insulated mate rial, spaced contact bars carried by said virl-- sulating member and` having segmentally shaped runways for a contact ball and a pivoted arm ior forcingsaid ball upwardly onto the inclined contact bars. Also to provide 'means whereby the inclination of the segmentally shaped member may be varied thereby allowing the time of delayed action oir the circuit maker and breaker to be varied.

With the above and other ob'ects in view the invention resides in the com ination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawin described and claimed, it bein understoo that changes 'in the precise em odimentof the invention ma be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit or theinvention.

inthe drawin s:-,.

Figure 1 is a on itudinal'sectional view through the vehicle epressed member.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the member depressed by the vehicle.

Figure 3 is a view partly in section and partly inelevation of one of the signalling members.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the circuit maker and breaker casing showing a side view of the circuit maker and breaker;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the circuit maker and breaker showing the casing in section.

, Figure 6 is a perspective view ci a portion of the ball runway of the circuit maker and breaker.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 4:

designates a depressed member, which may be placedl adjacent a street intersectiony where vehicles traveling thereover will pass over the same and force the same downwardly. Connected to the inner end of the vehicle depressed member 4 pivotally at 7 is a connecting rod 8, which connecting rod extends into a circuit maker casing 9 and is provided, with a universal connection l() to a pivoted arm 11. The arm 1]. is pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft 12 and is provided with a cam 13l cooperating with a cam 14 carried by the shaft l2 in such a; manner that when the vpivoted varm is moved in the direction ci the arrow a by a vehicle passing over the depressed member 4 the arm 15 ofthe pivoted .arm 11 will force .a contact ball 16, which ismounted on insulating member 17 upwardly on the inclined ooved contact members 18'suppprted in t e arcuate member y19 formedom insulated material, thereby closing the circuit 20, energizing the solenoid 21, which pulls upwardly 0n the arm 22 of a pivoted member 23 disposed in the signalling box 2i' adjacentl the side oii a street and spaced from an intersection. When the member 23 is rocked as above set forth, the arm 25 of said member moves downwardly, impartin pull on the' chain 26, the upper `end o which is connected to the arm` 2i' of the pivotedv si ailing arm 28,`thereby moving said signa ing arm E228-'to the position shown Figure d: for, signalling approaching vehicles. that a vehicle is approaching an intersection..` The signalling arm. 28 moves downwardly fupon breakin c. of the circuit when the bail 16 rolls ed t econtact members 18. Thecontact members' 18 are .preferably arcuate shaped and the insulating member 19 is hingedly supported at 29 at one of its ends and vertically adjustable at its other end by means ,of the adjusting screvsr 30, thereby allowing the inclination of the contact members 18 to be changed for varying the durationA of time of ener.- gizing the solenoid 21 for the reason that upon a slight inclination the ball 16 will roll back to normal 'inoperative osition shown in Figure 6 slowly, thereby a lowing the signalling' arm to be in operative posi tion as shown in Figure 3 sucientl long to allow the same to Ibe observed. )lhe signailing arm 28 is counterweighted by means of a Weight 31, which is of suilicient weight to allow 'the solenoid 21 t'o easily rock the pivoted member 23., f

The vehicle depressed member 4 is return-ed to upper or inoperative sition after the vehicle Wheels pass from t e same by means of a coiled spring 32, one end of which is connected at 33 to one of the pivoted members 5 and the other end at 34 to the bottom of the casing 6.

From the above it ,will be seen that a street vehicle signalling-device is provided which is simple in construction, positive in its operation, the parts reduced to .a minimum and so constructed that the duration of ad signalling period may bevaried as desire The invention having been set forth what is claimed es new and useful is 1. A vehiele'actuated circuit maker and breaker, said circuit maker and breaker comprising a depressible and longitudinally movable member, a horizontally .pivoted arm, a connection between -the depressi-ble member and the arm, a segmentally shaped inclined member formed from insulatin material and having a groove therein, sai groove having imbedded therein spaced seg'- mentally shaped conductor plates, said pivoted arm having one of its ends extending over the segmentally shaped member andv a spherical member formed from conductor material disposed on the segmentally shaped member and in the groove thereof in the path of the horizontally pivoted arm.

2. A circuit maker and breaker, said cir cuit maker and breaker comprisin a horizontally pivoted arm, means where y upon rotation of the horizontally pivoted arm, said arm "will move upwardly, one end of said larm *having actuating means connected thereto, an inclined segmentally shaped member overwhich one end of the pivoted arm overlies, grooves contact plates segmentally shaped and carried by. the segmentally shaped member, a conductor ball mounted on the segmentally shaped member adjacent one end of the contact f lates and in engagement with the arm an adapted to be projected' up the inclined segmentally shaped memberJ upon the rotation of the arm. l

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing;l Witnesses.

VllOR R. MELLENBRUCH.

Witnesses:

Hmm'r V, Permisos?, E. Devin Lime. 

